Mr Brumby said although there had been recent issues with crime around railway stations, "Victoria remains the safest place to live in Australia, and one of the safest places anywhere in the world''.

However, he said, in recent times there had been some increases in crime and assaults.

"We've also had some recent incidents where there has been attacks and assaults that have been racially based,'' Mr Brumby said.

"There's no doubt that if you look at some of the video evidence of these they have been crimes which are racially based.

"And I've made it very clear previously, I've made it very clear in the Parliament and I'll make it very clear again today - there is no place in our society for any crime which is racially based.

"It is unacceptable and is repugnant to me and repugnant to all Victorians.

"So the announcement today will mean increased police presence, it will mean an attack on criminal activity in some of these areas and I believe that it will produce the results I want to see, the Government wants to see and the community wants to see.''

Mr Brumby said he wanted to reassure India and its Government that Indian students and visitors to Victoria will be safe.

"Today's announcement is about saying whether you live here or whether you are a visitor here and studying here you will be safe,'' he said.

Mounted police, dog squads and helicopter patrols will be used to crack down on crime.

The operation will include uniformed police, transit police, the dog squad, the mounted branch and helicopter patrols in and around train stations.

Earlier Mr Overland said it was unfortunate that international students, particularly Indian students, had been caught up in the broader issue of street robberies.

"We have already been doing a lot of work to tackle the growing trend of street robberies over the past 18 months," Mr Overland said.

"We have certainly not been sitting on our hands with this issue and this increased enforcement will further bolster our already concerted efforts.

"This is not something new but instead an enhanced approach."

Groups of Indians are gathering nightly at St Albans station to provide security for Indian travellers as they walk home, because they say they are not being protected well enough by police.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called for calm following protests in Melbourne and Sydney by Indian students, saying Australia was one of the safest countries in the world for foreign students despite recent violence.

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He condemned the initial attacks on Indian students and any vigilante action being taken in retaliation, and pointed out that Australians also were at risk of violence when they travelled to India.

"I think everyone just needs to draw some breath on this and I think we need to see a greater atmosphere of general calm,'' he told Radio 3AW.